Kiaf Seoul and Frieze Seoul, Korea's flagship art festivals, opened side by side at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Tuesday. Frieze Seoul, the Korean edition of the global art fair, drew more than 130 galleries from 30 countries. Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner, Pace, White Cube, Lehmann Maupin and Thaddaeus Ropac all opened booths.
"Seoul will become Asia's art hub, where artists, galleries, collectors and visitors from around the world gather," Frieze Chief Executive Simon Fox said at the opening ceremony. "I believe Seoul will become a global cultural center and move toward an even brighter future."
The fair lived up to its reputation. Fernando Botero's "After Cranach," presented by the U.S.-based Art of the World Gallery, was offered at $1.9 million (about 2.6 billion won), reported to be the highest-priced work at the event.
Frieze Seoul's new "Spotlight" section also drew crowds. It revisited 15 20th-century artists overlooked in Western-centric art history, with solo presentations of works by Han Young-soo, Kwak Hoon, Suk Nan-hee, Hwang Kyu-tae and Son Sang-gi.
Kiaf Seoul, in its 25th year, welcomed visitors under the motto "new experience." This year 175 galleries from 18 countries took part — 127 domestic and 48 foreign. Fifteen overseas galleries joined for the first time, including Nino Mier of New York, Anna Nova of St. Petersburg and Jd Malat of London. Nineteen galleries participated in "Kiaf Plus," which brings together emerging galleries and young artists.
This year's theme is "Coexistence." "HUMAL," curated by director Jung Ku-ho, combines the words human and animal and questions human instinct and bodily senses in the age of artificial intelligence. Eleven artists took part, including Choi Xooang, Lee Hyung-koo and Kwak Ji-su. "I wanted to offer an experience of finding a balance point of the senses that does not waver between technology and humanity," Jung said.
Competition outside COEX is fierce as well. Frieze is holding "Frieze Week," linking the Leeum Museum of Art, Songeun and the Art Sonje Center, along with "Neighborhood Nights" in Euljiro, Hannam, Cheongdam and Samcheong. Working with conceptual artist Ryan Gander, it is scattering 16,000 limited-edition coins around venues during the event for citizens and visitors to find. Kiaf will host "Kiaf Classic" with pianist Cho Seong-jin on Thursday and screen media art at eight locations around Gwanghwamun. Talk programs held jointly with Frieze also continue.
"The number of people has clearly increased from last year," Lee Sung-hoon, head of the Galleries Association of Korea, told reporters. "We expect it to translate into sales."
The art world is watching whether this year's Kiaf-Frieze can reinvigorate Korea's art market. According to the Korea Arts Management Service, total domestic transactions hit a record 806.5 billion won in 2022, then fell to 615.1 billion won in 2024 before rebounding slightly to 638.2 billion won last year.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young, who toured the venue, said, "Seoul is now emerging as the center of the global art market, beyond Asia," adding, "The government will provide support through systems and policies." Frieze Seoul runs through Friday and Kiaf Seoul through Saturday.
